SHORAI POWERED KTM : R1 Kaven Benoit and Cole Thompson TOP 5

Posted: June 02, 2015

Kaven Benoit and Cole Thompson both secure very important top five overall results at the opening round in Kamloops, BC.

On a very hot day and with a extremely challenging track in front of them, the Royal Distributing Fox KTM Team of Kaven Benoit and Cole Thompson both solidified consistent top five results to begin their 2015 quest to become Canadian champions.

In the MX2 class, defending champion Benoit knew that he had to conserve energy and ride smart at Whispering Pines Raceway if he hoped to have a successful day. After qualifying in second place in timed practice, Benoit put his 2015 KTM 250 two-stroke into a top three position when the gate dropped for moto one in the hotly contested MX2 class.

After some intense battles with Jimmy Decotis and Jeremy Medaglia, including a bar banging last lap attempt to try and pass Medaglia for second in the first moto. Benoit accomplished exactly what he set out to do at the opening round of the series, and that was to remain consistent and build momentum heading into round two this coming weekend in Nanaimo, BC.

“Coming into round one my goal was to ride smart and not make any big mistakes. I knew a few of these Western tracks would be tough to ride on my two-stroke because they’re very slippery. However, my bike was awesome today and if I hadn’t made that error while leading moto two, I think I could’ve taken my first win of the young season”.

Coming into the first round MX1 rider Cole Thompson was anxious to just get the series started. After taking most of last season off to recover from knee surgery, Thompson had his sights set on having a consistent and trouble free introduction back into racing at the national level.

Racing the Whispering Pines track for the very time, Thompson got off to a good start in moto one and was beginning to feel very comfortable on the rough track and on his all-new 2016 KTM 450 SX-F. However, in the early laps the eventual winner Brett Metcalfe slide right in front of Thompson and the KTM rider was left with nowhere to go. That crash left Thompson with a few bumps and bruises and a very sore back, but he remounted and soldiered on to a top five overall finish under the hot Kamloops sun.

“Although today didn’t go at all the way I wanted it to go, I was still able to finish in the top five and score some valuable points to begin the series. I was very happy with my bike and the team today, they all worked very hard and hopefully I can reward them with a podium finish at round two.”

As the Royal Distributing Fox KTM Team moves west to Nanaimo, BC for round two. New Team Manager Jean-Sébastien Roy is very optimistic for this coming weekend and the rest of the series. “You definitely can’t win either title at the first round, I thought our riders performed well in Kamloops. The track was very rough and the temperatures were extremely hot, when the race is that tough anything can happen. To come away with two top five finishes is very promising as we head into the 2015 series.”